Nachrichters: oder Nutzliches und aufrichtiges Ross-Artzney-Büchlein .....

Germantown [PA]: Christoph Saur, 1771. Second expanded edition - new appendix.. Contemporary half leather.. Good; binding is worn; toning & spotting.. 12mo, 208, [8 - index], 12 pp.

The earliest veterinary manual available in colonial America. It is based on a continental publication of 1716. What is new in Saur's printing are the appendices. The first two appearing in 1770 and then here, the third 12 page appendix, appearing for the first time. This third appendix - a full signature - bears the provenance statement that it's contents had been drawn from printed and other "mundgezogenen" sources. It contains folk cures for all kinds of (truncated) veterinary ailments (even tells you how to select the best cow in the market) and finally ends with two sections devoted to the ailments of geese and chickens. It is apparent that this was an afterthought to attract attention to a useful book for the farm and thereby enhance sales. The text is lengthy and after treating ailments of the horse provides cures for various livestock ailments. A difficult book to find in trade complete since it was used to destruction. Arndt #393; Austin #642; Evans #12026. (Inventory #: 20091)